Failed unit replacement
Reactive replacement of failed, cracked or fogged double-glazed units on commercial glazed envelopes — measured, ordered, fitted with full warranty support. Pane-by-pane delivery on rope without scaffold.
Rope access glazing & curtain wall repair
Rope access glazing and curtain-walling — glass replacement, water ingress remediation, gasket and sealant renewal on commercial glazed envelopes.
What is a rope access glazing contractor?
Rope-access glazing covers reactive and planned works on commercial glazed envelopes — failed double-glazed unit replacement, curtain-walling repair and refurbishment, gasket and sealant renewal, water ingress diagnosis and remediation, and spandrel panel works. Apex teams work on all major stick and unitised curtain-walling systems — Schueco, Reynaers, Kawneer, Technal, Comar and similar — including pressure-equalised systems requiring specialist drainage path knowledge. The technique avoids scaffold or MEWP access on tall commercial facades where unit replacement, gasket renewal or ingress investigation needs to happen with minimum disruption to the live building. Failed units are removed, the new unit hoisted up by rope, dropped into position and sealed in — typically inside a single shift per pane.
Part of Rope Access Division.
How we deliver.
Curtain wall repair & refurbishment
Repair and refurbishment of stick and unitised curtain-walling — Schueco, Reynaers, Kawneer, Technal, Comar. Component replacement, frame realignment, drainage path restoration.
Gasket & sealant renewal
Internal and external gasket replacement on transoms, mullions and frames; mastic renewal between panels and at junctions. Refresh cycle on commercial facades typically 15-25 years.
Water ingress remediation
Diagnosis and repair of water ingress through failed seals, gaskets, drainage paths or spandrel panels. Hose-test investigation, defect mapping and targeted repair — without re-cladding the entire facade.
Spandrel panel works
Repair and replacement of cracked, faded or detached spandrel panels on curtain walling. Insulation and vapour barrier checked at same visit; works covered under the building's H&S file.
Balustrade & balcony glass
Replacement of loose, broken or fogged glass panels in balustrades, balconies and handrail systems. Common scope on apartment towers and BTR projects post-handover.
Where we deliver.
Rope access glazing suits any commercial glazed envelope where scaffold would be slow, expensive or disruptive — particularly on occupied office, hotel and high-rise residential buildings.
- Commercial offices
- Hotels & hospitality
- High-rise residential & BTR
- Hospitals & healthcare
- Education & universities
- Mixed-use developments
- Banking & financial services
Case studies.
See more
Home Bargains / TJ Morris Distribution Centre, Doncaster
Rope access install of three illuminated flexface signs at TJ Morris's Doncaster distribution centre: two 17.2m Home Bargains faces and a 10m oval.
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Base 71, Barnsley
Three high-level illuminated tray signs installed post-construction on a fully occupied building using temporary anchorage.
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Revolut HQ, Canary Wharf
Two 3m-high individual flex face letters installed at Revolut's new Canary Wharf office — heavy-lift sections in excess of 900kg, mixed BMU and rope access.
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Larpool Viaduct, Whitby
Annual de-vegetation and brickwork de-scaling on a 13-arch viaduct spanning an active holiday park.
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Castle Wharf, Nottingham
Critical masonry and concrete repairs to the British Waterways Building's canal-side elevation, delivered entirely on rope.
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Hyatt Place, Leeds
Two sets of illuminated built-up lettering installed during the live construction phase, with bespoke temporary anchorage.
Read moreFAQs.
Can rope access teams replace a failed double-glazed unit?
Yes — failed unit replacement on rope is one of our day-to-day scopes. Units are measured to size, ordered (typically 4-6 week lead time for IGUs), then hoisted up by rope and fitted on a single shift per pane. Disruption to the building below is minimal — typically a small exclusion zone at ground level for the delivery hoist.
Do you work on Schueco, Reynaers and Kawneer systems?
Yes — Apex's teams work on all major stick and unitised curtain-walling systems including Schueco, Reynaers, Kawneer, Technal and Comar. Manufacturer-specific components (gaskets, glazing tape, mechanical fixings) ordered through approved supply channels.
How do you diagnose water ingress through a curtain wall?
We start with a desk review of the building's drawings and any historic incident reports, then run a structured hose-test investigation from the rope — testing suspect joints individually and observing internally. The investigation isolates the failure mode (gasket, mastic, drainage, spandrel) and supports a targeted repair rather than full re-cladding.
How long does a gasket and sealant refresh take on a typical commercial facade?
Productivity depends on facade complexity and works specification. A typical 20,000 sqm commercial curtain-wall refresh runs 12-20 weeks on rope, vs 30-50 weeks on scaffold. Programme can be staged to keep the building occupied throughout.
Do you provide a warranty on glazing replacement?
Yes — manufacturer warranty on the unit (typically 10 years on the seal) passes through to the client, and Apex warrants the installation workmanship (typically 12 months). Defect investigation under warranty is included in the post-completion period.
Talk to our Rope Access team about glazing & curtain walling
Contact our Rope Access team today about your project. We aim to respond within 24 hours.